On some level, it actually doesn't matter if it doesn't actually conflict if the appearance of conflict is there (and I think it is).

Counsel to a law enforcement body also serving as a counsel to various criminal defendants is about as close as you can get to appearing to be conflicted without actually being so (in a particular case). The Ethics Board makes a point of this in annual presentations to City Staff.

To that point, this statement by Krasner is one of the most shocking things I've ever seen a high profile and actually legitimate attorney say:

>“There’s a difference between an actual legal conflict and something that people might interpret as a conflict because there’s an appearance of impropriety,” Krasner said. “That is all completely separate from whether or not there’s an ethical issue.”

ETA: All to say, if you work for the public, I expect you to seriously consider the implications of even appearing to have a conflict. Moreover, if you want to ask, you can request an ethics opinion first. Obviously, he didn't do that.